An Open Letter to White People in Need of a Token Brown Person

Until further notice, I will no longer serve as a member of your organization or group simply so it will appear to be more “diverse” than it really is.

Remember that time you said, “But we really need your ‘point of view’?” I will no longer pretend to represent the “point of view” of all brown people because brown people do not share the same points of view.

Shocking, I know.

When a race-related news item goes viral, I will no longer be available to dry your tears over “these scary times.” Nor will I counter your tired, head-in-your-ass suggestion that we need to love each other more with a monologue about systemic racism.

I will no longer serve as the intermediary between you and Google. When you want to know what DACA stands for or who the Rohingya people are or what mass incarceration is, you will need to search reliable online news sources yourself. On that note, quit sending emails asking me how you can better understand the racism you just discovered yesterday.

Contrary to popular belief, I do not possess a Rolodex filled with brown and black people organized by nationality, race, ethnicity, religion and/or native language that I can reference when you want to “add a little color” to your event. In the future, consider actually getting to know some brown or black people. (And if they’re not interested in having anything to do with you, remember it’s because they don’t want to be the token brown or black person in your social circle.)

Please remove the dozens of photos you have posted of me on your social media platforms, which make your community seem more multiracial and multiethnic when really it’s just me holding different cocktails at different gatherings.

Thank you for your time and attention. I look forward to never hearing from you.